Release courtesy of Swarthmore Athletic Communications

ASHLAND, VA. - Keeping their dominant streak going in the second round of the NCAA Regional Round winner's bracket, the Swarthmore softball team defeated Ramapo College on Friday, May 19, toppling the Roadrunners by a score of 5-2.
 
Offensively, the Garnet were helmed by first year Iris Barone and sophomore Brooke Coneeny. Barone earned her place in the spotlight for the second consecutive game thanks to a multi-RBI single in the second, while Coneeny proved rock solid from the batter's box, tallying one hit and two runs on the day.
 
From the circle, Swarthmore saw another excellent outing from their pitching staff, this time with the load split between sophomores Emily Bertrand and Sarah Schab. Bertrand held Ramapo's bats in check through the first five innings, surrendering just seven hits and two earned runs while striking out three batters. This dominance allowed for Schab to secure the save in the sixth and seventh, serving up fireballs on seemingly every pitch for a final stat line of three hits, zero earned runs and a strikeout.
 
With the result, the Garnet extend their win streak to 11, including six straight postseason victories.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- While Ramapo struck first, taking a 1-0 advantage in the top of the second, the Garnet responded right back in the bottom of the inning. After two walks and a Bertrand single loaded the bases with just one out, a third walk drawn by sophomore Jordan Jackson brought in senior Kate Hart, evening the game up at 1-all. Not satisfied with the tie score, Barone stepped up to the plate. Ice dripping through her veins, the lefty slammed a single to left center, driving home both Coneeny and Bertrand to give Swarthmore their first lead of the game at 3-1.

- After holding the Roadrunners scoreless in the top halves of the third and fourth innings, the Garnet extended that margin in the bottom of the fourth. Following two singles and a hit by pitch to load the bases with only one out, a single from junior Alexandra Simon that forced a throwing error from the shortstop scored both Barone and Coneeny, growing Swarthmore's lead to 5-1.

- While Ramapo finally managed to stem the bleeding in the top of the fifth, chipping into their deficit at 5-2, their efforts proved futile before the dominance of the Bertrand-Schab pitching duo. Over the final three innings, despite the Roadrunners putting on board eight baserunners, only two managed to make it as far as third base, with the Garnet's fire-slingers ultimately securing the team's 5-2 victory 

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Hits: Barone (1), Cheong (1), Simon (1), Bertrand (1), Coneeny (1)
Runs: Coneeny (2), Barone (1), Betrand (1), Hart (1)
RBIs: Barone (2), Simone (1), Jackson (1)
 
GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Bertrand: 7 H, 2 ER, 3 SO, 5.0 IP
Schab: 3 H, 0 ER, 1 SO, 2.0 IP

UP NEXT
Competing in the finals of the Ashland Regional, the Garnet will rematch with host Randolph-Macon College on Saturday, May 20th after the Yellow Jackets knocked off Ramapo College and St. John Fisher University in the elimination bracket.